One of the most encouraging signs for Villa Rica boys basketball coach Jason Robinson this summer has been the play of his rising junior point guards, Sharad Drayton and Dee Thompson.

“They’re the floor generals, both of them. They know what I expect. You know, they’ve both played last year, have a lot of experience,” Robinson said. “So it’s important that those guys get a lot of minutes in the summer, as well as just those younger guys seeing their leadership responsibilities.”

The pair helped the Wildcats claim a 66-63 victory against Dunwoody in VR’s team camp on Tuesday, with Drayton hitting the go-ahead layup before Thompson’s two free throws sealed the win.

Later in the day, Drayton put the Cats ahead by one in the final minute against Temple before the Tigers won 46-45. Robinson said Drayton’s experience in important games early in his varsity career is beginning to pay dividends.

“His role just expands, you know, being a guy who’s played in a lot of meaningful Quad-A basketball games,” Robinson said.

The coach said Thompson’s maturation has been another important development this summer.

“He has improved his play over summer tremendously. He’s not making the same mistakes as far as turning the ball over,” Robinson said. “He’s taking good shots, finding open guys.”

The continued leadership of the point guards will be vital for Villa Rica as it looks to make up for the loss of Craig Allen, Johnny Hodges and Omar McLendon.

“From the offensive standpoint, you know, there were times that those guys carried us last season,” Robinson said. “But at the same time we miss them more defensively, just their rebound presence and things like that.”

Robinson said rising sophomores Kevin Jones, Tae Marshall and Lakeem Mincey have a good chance of making an impact by Christmas next season. The coach has also been impressed with rising senior Nic Shackelford’s abilities as an inside-out threat.

“He’s stepped up,” Robinson said. “He can play in the paint, as well as shoot it on the perimeter.”

He is encouraged by rising senior Garry Flanagan’s play this summer, as well.

“Garry Flanagan’s another senior that we’re expecting good things for. He’s a hard worker,” Robinson said. “He’s really done a lot of work in the offseason to try to help improve his game and stamina.”

Returning starter Camez Lowe is someone the Wildcats will be counting on again for solid production.

“We look for him to keep shooting well from the perimeter, giving us that outside threat,” Robinson said.

The coach said having no players taller than 6-foot-2 is a “big disadvantage” in Class AAAA, but he is telling his guys they have to outwork and outhustle opponents.

“That’s how we’re approaching this summer and this season,” Robinson said. “If we can keep everybody working hard and positive, then we feel like we’re going in the right direction.”

He is also stressing to his team the importance of playing as a unit.

“It’s not a one-man show. You know, we tell them all the time, ‘If we play as a team, we have an opportunity to compete with anybody we line up against,’” Robinson said. “But at the same time, if it turns into an individual competition, we’re not good enough as far as just single athletes to carry a team right now.”

But one of the best things for Villa Rica is the chance to cause defenses problems with its one-two punch at the point.

“When we can put two point guard types on the floor at the same time, we feel like that’s an advantage to us because everybody’s got one good on-ball defender,” Robinson said. “But it’s hard for a team to put two good on-ball defenders on the defensive end. So we feel like with those two guys, either one of them can run the point.”